Ecruteak City, Johto region.
Inside Bell Tower.
An elderly monk with the bearing of an enlightened master looked somewhat displeased at the young monk who had barged in so recklessly. Turning the wooden prayer beads in his hand, he asked softly, "What has made you so flustered that you cannot even maintain the state of Clear Water?"
The panicked young monk had fallen onto the wooden floor in his haste. Stammering, he said, "M-Master! Lord Ho-Oh has appeared, and it even showed up at a live match for the sake of its hero!"
The elderly monk froze. He did not even notice the prayer beads slipping from his hand and falling to the floor, adding a few sounds to the silent Bell Tower. He asked in disbelief, "What did you say?"
Nervously, the young monk described what he had just seen on television.
"Just now... Lord Ho-Oh appeared at the Pokémon World Championship Ultra Ball Tier open tournament and took the field as one of the contestants' Pokémon!"
At this moment, the elderly monk could no longer maintain his calm expression.
His wrinkled hands trembled slightly. He tried repeatedly to pick up the prayer beads, but failed each time, muttering to himself.
"Impossible... If Lord Ho-Oh had truly forgiven humanity and chosen its Rainbow Hero, the bell in the tower should have rung."
"Could it be... that Ho-Oh is a fake?"
Olden City, Royal Family Arena.
At this moment, the once-lively arena had fallen utterly silent.
Everyone stared wide-eyed at the deity that had descended into the mortal world below. Their mouths hung open wide enough to fit an egg, their pupils shaking violently.
What had they just seen?
Ho-Oh, the totemic faith of the Kanto and Johto regions, a Legendary Pokémon that had parted ways with humanity, had actually